Methods and apparatus for facilitating respiration



Jan. 27, 1970 w. wfwE-Es;

METKODS AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING RESPIRATION Filed April 20, 1965 l'NVENTOR WILFRED w. WEESE United States Patent 3,491,754 METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING RESPIRATION Wilfred W. Weese, New York, N.Y., assignor to Harry Swartz, New York, N.Y. Filed Apr. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 449,568 Int. Cl. A61m /00 US. Cl. 128-212 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus which facilitates human respiration in a cold environment. Conduit means are adapted to guide air to the lungs of a wearer. Flexible flow path means comprising a generally triangular pocket formed from at least two layers of an air permeable material glued at the edge interfaces and being in continuous communication with ambient atmosphere for guiding fresh air directly from the ambient atmosphere to the conduit means in a path passing beneath the garments of the wearer and closely adjacent various body portions of the wearer. The flow path means are sufficiently flexible to lie closely and generally conformingly against the adjacent body portions of the wearer. Means for reflecting heat radiated by the body of the wearer are positioned on a side of the flow path means remote from the wearers body and are adapted to reflect heat radiated from the body transversely into the path of air guided through said flow path means.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for facilitating respiration. In particular, it relates to such methods and apparatus which may be employed to facilitate the breathing of human beings who are exposed to relatively cold atmospheres.

In cold climates, and in artificially refrigerated atmospheres, human beings often experience difficulty in breathing. Cold ambient air drawn into the lungs of human beings frequently has an adverse effect which limits the ability of such persons to perform useful work or to remain exposed to such cold atmospheres for extended periods of time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus which facilitate the breathing of human beings in cold atmospheres.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide such methods and apparatus which are characterized for structural simplicity, ease of utilization, and reliability of performance.

A further object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus which do not adversely impede or limit normal breathing, which provide no interference with the clothing worn by a user of the invention, and which do not interfere with the ability of such a user to perform useful work.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which is devoid of cumbersome structure usually found in respirator devices, which is compact, and which is an expendable, low cost item.

A similar object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which is flexible and fabric-like in structure so as to not be likely to impede the movements of a wearer or to cause injury to the wearer if the apparatus should be struck and forced against the body of the wearer.

One method facet of the invention involves the radiation of heat from the body of a human being and the reflecting of this radiated heat back toward this body. Air is flowed through the zone into which radiated heat is reflected. This air, which is heated while passing through the zone by both radiated and reflected body heat, is transmitted to the lungs of a human being.

Another method facet of the invention involves the flowing of air between the body of the human being and outer garments worn by this being. The flow of this air is impeded so as to be exposed to body heat for a greater period of time than would result from a free flow of air. This air is then transmitted to the lungs of the person.

Other method facets of the invention involves the constraining of air flowing between the body of a human being and garments worn by the being so as to cause the air to flow along a path having a width generally parallelling the body of the wearer, which width exceeds a depth extending transversely of the wearer and also in constraining this air to flow along a path which progressively diminishes in width in a flow direction extending toward the lungs of the human being.

Yet another method aspect involves the dividing of air flowing between the body of the human being and a garment such that a major portion enters a flow path and flows generally parallel to the body of the human being while another portion enters the flow path generally transversely of the body of the human being to merge with the portion flowing parallel to this body.

A particularly advantageous feature of the invention involves the aforementioned aspects functioning in com- 'bination.

Apparatus aspects of the invention involve means for accomplishing each of the individually identified method aspects or facets of the invention as well as a combination of means for implementing, in coordinated relation, all of the above-noted method aspects.

An especially significant apparatus aspect of the invention involves a structure which is characterized by a plurality of flexible, superposed, generally triangular layers.

In describing the invention, reference will be made to preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 schematically illustrates the outer appearance of a person wearing an apparatus of the present invention and practicing the method of this invention;

FIGURE 2 schematically illustrates a profile view of a person illustrating a relationship between the apparatus of the invention and the body of the person;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic plan view of a preferred apparatus embodiment partially broken away to reveal the diverse character of a plurality of triangular flexible layers employed in the apparatus;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, sectional view of the FIG- URE 3 apparatus as viewed along the section line 44; and

FIGURE 5 is a transverse, sectional view of the FIG- URE 3 apparatus as viewed along the section line 5-5.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 illustrate structural details of a preferred form of the respiration facilitating apparatus 1 of this invention.

The respiration facilitating apparatus 1 includes a plurality of flexible, superposed layers each of which has a generally triangular configuration as shown in FIG- URE 3.

A first layer 2 may be fabricated from open mesh material such as nylon mesh having about 12 mesh openings per linear inch, with the size of the nylon strands being on the order of about of an inch.

A second layer 3 is fabricated of porous and permeable sponge-like material such as polyurethane foam. This layer may have about 25 percent at least partially interconnected pore space and will be capable of transmitting air flow both longitudinally through the layer and transversely of the layer. The thickness of this layer may be on the order of about A; of an inch.

A third layer 4 may also be fabricated of porous and permeable, sponge-like material such as polyurethane foam. This layer, however, may have a porosity considerably in excess of that of the second layer 3. Third layer 4 may have 'an at least partially interconnected pore space as high as 97 percent so as to have a permeability through the layer and transversely of the layer considerably in excess of the permeability of second layer 32 The thickness of the third flexible layer 4' may been the order of about A of an inch.

r. A fourth layer 5 provides a heat reflecting surfaceand may be at least partially'metallic in character. For example, fourth layer 5 may comprise a heat reflecting, metallicized or metal coated, plastic film or may comprise a. thin layer of finely metailic foil.

The fifth layer 6 may be fabricated of open mesh material such as that employed in the first layer 2.

Allof the previously described five layers may be of substantially the same planar configuration and arranged in the consecutive order illustrated in the application drawings. i 1

One edge 7 of the apparatus, intended to face downwardly when 'worn by a human being, comprises mutually secure edge portions of the fiye layers of the apparatus. This securing may be accomplished by a conventional commercially available adhesive. Thus, as shown in FIG- URE 4, the sponge-like layers 3 and 4 are glued together along an edge interface 7a. The surface 5a of the heat reflecting layer 5, which faces the sponge-like layer 4, may be glued substantially throughout its areal extent to the adjoining outer surface 4a of the sponge-like layer 4. The edge portions 6a and 2a of the mesh layers 6 and 2 may be secured to adjacent edge portions of the reflecting layer 5 and sponge layer 3, respectively, by conventional adhesives.

The interconnected edges of the sponge layers 3 and 4, along the edge 7, define an air permeable edge of the apparatus which allows a generally longitudinal inflow of air along the longitudinal flow direction 8 as schematically shown in FIGURE 4.

The other two edge portions 9 and 10 of the apparatus are also interconnected. This interconnecting may comprise a stitched, layer edge securing thread 11 extending along the apparatus edge 9 and another stitched, layer edge securing thread 12 extending along the apparatus edge 10.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the upper end 13 of the apparatus is somewhat truncated and defines the apex of edges 9 and 10.

Conduit means which may comprise a conventional, commercially available, flexible tube 14 may be inserted between the foam layers 3 and 4 at the truncated apex 13 as generally shown in FIGURE 4. The edges of material at the apex 13 may be secured about the outer periphery of the conduit 14 by a conventional clamp or tie 15 or by other fastening means such as adhesive or stitching.

Conduit 14, as schematically shown, may be fabricated of flexible plastic and provided with a metallic or plastic, flexible and helical reinforcing element 16.

The upper end 14a of conduit 14 may terminate at a conventional mouth piece 17. As schematically shown, mouth piece 17 may include a cavity 18 which communicates witth the interior of the conduit 14 and may further include one or more projections 19 in the mouth piece 17 which are intended to be disposed within the mouth of a user. The mouth piece 17 may be provided with a recessed portion 20 which may be engaged by the lips of a wearer of the apparatus.

A neck strap 21 may be connected by a conventional fastener such as a ring 22, or by a detachable snap fastener, to the interconnected triangular layers of material.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the apparatus is intended to be worn by a human being 23 such that the neck strap 21 supports the interconnected triangular layers on the chest of the person with the mesh layer 2 facing the body of the wearer and the edge 7 facing downwardly when the person is erect. The conduit 14 extends upwardly to the mouth piece 17 which is disposed partially within the mouth of the person 23. I

The apparatus disposed as shown in FIGURE 2 is intended to be disposed between the body 24 of the person 23 and an outer garment 25 worn by the person. Preferably the apparatus would be disposed beneath a shirt worn by the person 23 so as to be in close proximity to the body 24 of this person. With this arrangement, the conduit 14 may extend from the;throat area of clothing worn by the person 23, such that the superposed layers of material in the apparatus 1 are located beneath the clothing worn by the person 17, i.e., isolated from direct exposure to the atmosphere in whch the person 17 is disposed. It will be understood, of course, that the clothing worn by the person will ordinarily be air permeable or have openings sufficient to allow air outsde of the clothing to circulate to the edge 7 or" the apparatus.

It will thlrs be appreciated that the sponge-like layers 3 and 4 comprise wall means which define a flow path 26 disposed between the layers 3 and 4. This flow path has a width w which generally parallels body portion 24 of the wearer 23 and exceeds a depth d which extends transversely of the body portion 24.

In FIGURE 4, for purposes of clarity, the layers 3 and 4 are shown in an exaggerated condition of separation. It will be understood that the flexible character of the layers 3 and 4 will be such that throughout most of these layers, the mutually facing layer surfaces 4b and 3a will be in a substantially adjacent relationship so as to define an essentially planar or flat flow path. It will be further understood that the width w progressively decreases in a direction extending away from the edge 7 and extending along the longitudinal flow direction 8 toward the inlet 14b of the conduit 14.

The interconnected edges 40 and 3b of the spongelike layers 4 and 3 define a flow impeding air inlet for the flow path 26. As schematically shown in FIGURE 4, and as a consequence of the greater permeability of the layer 4, the substantial portion of air entering the flow path 26 in the generally longitudinal flow direction 8 will pass through the edge 40 of the layer 4.

The mesh layer 2 will allow a circulation of air between the body portion 24 of the wearer 23 and the sponge-like layer 3. Consequently, as a result of the low pressure which will be created in the flow path 26 when the person 23 inhales, air will enter the flow path 26 in a transverse direction along the longitudinal length of the flow path 26 in directions extending transversely of the layer 3 and flow path 26 as schematically shown by the flow direction arrows 27.

In other words, the mesh layer 2 functions as spacer means disposed between the body portion 24 of the wearer 23 and the sponge-like layer 3 so as to facilitate the transverse air flow along the flow directions 27 leading to the flow path 26.

With this arrangement suflicient air will be supplied to the conduit means 14 to satisfy breathing requirements of the person 23. Because of the greater permeability of the layer 4, a major portion of this air will enter longitudinally through the edge 4c while the bulk of the remainder of the air will enter transversely through the layer 3.

It will be appreciated that the edge 40 of the layer 4 and substantially the entire areal extent of the layer 3 define fiow impeding means for slowing the velocity of air entering the flow path 26 so as to increase the period of time which this air remains in heat absorbing relation with the body of the wearer 23.

The relative ease of longitudinal flow through the edge 40 is defined to insure a continuous and adequate supply of air to the person 17. The relatively greater impeded, transverse flow through the layer 3 is intended to provide an inflow of air into the flow path 26 which is warmed to a greater extent than air entering along the longitudinal direction 8. The air entering along the direction 8 will be warmed to some degree as a consequence of its entering the flow path 26 beneath the outer garments 25 which will serve to retain some body heat in the vicinity of the apparatus edge 7. However, the air entering transversely along the flow direction, 27 will move at a slower rate and be in closer proximity to the body portion 24 of the wearer 23 so as to be warmed to a substantially greater extent by body heat radiating from the body of the wearer 23.

The heat reflecting layer 5 serves to reflect heat radiated outwardly from the body portion 24 through the flow path 26 back into this flow path so as to further heat the air flowing to the lungs of the person 17.

In summary, it will now be appreciated that the method of facilitating respiration resulting from the use of the apparatus 1 entails the flowing of air through a zone 26 between the body 18 of a human being 23 and outer garments 25. This flow of air is impeded by the edge 40 of the layer 4 and the generally planar configured, walllike layer 3.

Heat is radiated outwardly from the body portion 24 so as to pass through the flow path 26. This radiated heat is reflected by the layer 5 back into the flow path 26. Air passing through the flow path 26, and heated by body heat radiated from the body portion 24 and body heat reflected by the layer 5-, is transmitted through the zzonduit 14 and mouthpiece 17 to the lungs of the person The generally planar character of the flow path 26 resulting from the width w substantially exceeding the depth d maximizes the extent to which air passing through the flow path 26 absorbs radiated and reflected body heat. The triangular or progressively dimensioning character of the width w of the flow path, in a direction extending away from the inlet edge 7 provides for generally smooth flow continuously throughout flow path 26 and avoids the forming of stagnate air zones within this flow path. In addition, this configuration facilitates the wearing of the apparatus on the chest of a person and insures a high volume air intake through the wide inlet edge 7.

The major and lesser heated portion of the air flowing through the flow path 26 enters through the edge 40 and passes longitudinally through the flow path. This major portion of the air flow, although not heated as much as other portions of the air flow, insures a continuous and adequate supply of air to satisfy the breathing needs of the person 23. The greater heated but lesser portion of air flowing through the flow path 26 enters this flow path between the body portion 24 of the human being and an outer garment worn by this person.

In describing the structure and mode of operation of the invention, its advantages have been made readily apparent.

The fabric-like character of the interconnected, flexible layers provides a heated flow path defining structure which in no substantial way interferes with movements of a wearer or the garments worn by the wearer. The apparatus insures a continuous and adequate supply of air in applying a principal degree of flow resistance and heating to only a portion of air entering the flow path.

The apparatus is characterized by compactness, structural simplicity and ease of fabrication. The cost of the apparatus is nominal such that it may be viewed as an expendable item.

Should a person fall while wearing the apparatus or be struck by an object, the fabric-like character of the interconnected, flexible layers avoids the incurrence of injury to the wearer as a result of forceable engagement between the apparatus and the body of the wearer.

While the'apparatus has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that the configuration, arrangement, and composition of layers may be altered while remaining within the purview of dominant aspects of the invention. Those familiar with the disclosure of the invention and skilled in the respiration art may well envision additions, deletions, substitutions or other modifications with reference to the disclosed embodiments which would fall within the purview of the overall invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for facilitating respiration being disposed between the outer garments and the body of a wearer, said apparatus comprising:

conduit means adapted to guide air to the lungs of the wearer;

flexible flow path means in continuous communication with the ambient atmosphere between the outer garments and the body of a wearer for guiding fresh air from the ambient atmosphere to said conduit means in a path passing closely adjacent various body portions of the wearer, said flow path means being sufliciently flexible to lie closely and generally conformingly against the body portions of the wearer; air inlet means for said flow path having a crosssectional inlet area substantially greater than the cross-section area of said conduit means;

means connected to said flow path for reflecting heat radiated by the body of said wearer back toward said body;

said flow path means adapted to be disposed between said means for reflecting heat and the body of said wearer;

said means for reflecting heat being adapted to reflect said heat radiated from said body transversely of and into air guided through said flow path means.

2. An apparatus for facilitating respiration being disposed between the outer garments and the body of a wearer, said apparatus comprising:

conduit means adapted to guide air to the lungs of a wearer;

flexible flow path means in continuous communication with the ambient atmosphere between the outer garments and the body of a wearer for guiding fresh air from the ambient atmosphere to said conduit means, said flexible flow path means adapted to be disposed between the body of the wearer and garments worn by the wearer, said flow path means being sufficiently flexible to lie closely and generally conformingly against adjacent body portions of the wearer; and

air inlet means for said flow path means adapted to be disposed between said outer garment and the body of said wearer, said air inlet means having a crosssectional inlet area substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of said conduit means, said air inlet means including flow impeding means whereby air within said flow path may be warmed by the body of said wearer.

3. An apparatus for facilitating respiration being disposed between the outer garments and the body of a wearer, said apparatus comprising:

conduit means adapted to guide air to the lungs of a wearer;

flexible flow path means in continuous communication with the ambient atmosphere between the outer garments and the body of a wearer for guiding fresh air from the ambient atmosphere to said conduit means, said flexible flow path means adapted to be disposed between the body of said wearer and garments worn by said wearer, said flow path means being sufliciently flexible to lie closely and generally conformingly against adjacent body portions of said wearer,

air inlet means for said flow path means adapted to be disposed between said outer garment and the body of said wearer, said air inlet means having a cross-sectional inlet area substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of said conduit means, said air inlet means including flow impeding means, whereby air within said flow path may be warmed by the body of said wearer; means connected to said flow path for reflecting heat radiated by the body of said wearer back toward said body; said flow path means being adapted to be disposed between said means for reflecting heat and the body of said wearer; said means for reflecting heat being adapted to reflect said heat radiated from said body transversely of and into air guided through said flow path means. 4. An apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said flow path means comprises wall means defining a path having a width adapted to generally parallel the body of said wearer, which width exceeds a depth extending transversely of said wearer. 5. An apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said wall means define a flow path having a width which decreases in a direction extending away from said air inlet means and toward said conduit means. 6. An apparatus for facilitating respiration, said apparatus comprising:

means defining a flow path adapted to be disposed between the body of the wearer and outer garments worn by said wearer, said means defining said flow path including wall means defining a path having a width adapted to generally parallel the body of said wearer, which width exceeds a depth extending transversely of said wearer; air inlet means for said flow path adapted to be disposed between said outer garment and the body of said wearer, said air inlet means including flow impeding means; means for transmitting air from said flow path to the lungs of said wearer; means for reflecting heat radiated by the body of said wearer back toward said body; said means defining said flow path being adapted to be disposed between said means for reflecting heat and the body of said wearer; said means connected to said flow path for reflecting heat being adapted to reflect said heat radiated from said body transversely of and into said flow path; said wall means defining the flow path further having a Width which decreases in a direction extending away from said air inlet means and toward said means for transmitting air from said flow path, said wall means further including a pair of mutually facing flexible porous impermeable layers of material; and said flow impeding means including an edge portion of one of said layers, and a generally planar portion of the other of said layers adapted to face the body of said wearer. 7. An apparatus as described in claim 6 including spacer means connected to said other layer of permeable 8. An apparatus for facilitating respiration said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of flexible, superposed layers, each having a generally triangular configuration, said layers includ-- a first layer of open mesh material,

a second layer of porous and permeable, spongelike material,

a third layer of porous and permeable, sponge-like material,

said third layer having a permeability greater than said second layer,

a further, at least partially metallic, heat reflecting,

flexible layer, and

a fifth, open mesh layer;

said layers of material, on one edge of said triangular configuration, being interconnected to define a marginal edge of interconnected layers, with said interconnected second and third layers defining air permeable edge means;

a major portion of the other two edges of said triangular configuration comprising interconnected edges of said layer;

conduit means having a portion disposed between said second and said third layers and entering between said second and third layers at the apex of said other two edges of said triangular configuration; and

mouthpiece means aflixed to another portion of said conduit means.

9. An apparatus as described in claim 8 including a neck strap for supporting said layers of material from the neck of a wearer of said apparatus.

10. A method of facilitating respiration, said method comprising guiding a major portion of air along a flow path extending through and linearly of a zone between the body of a human being and outer garments worn by the human being,

guiding a relatively minor portion of air transversely of and into said flow path,

constraining the air in said zone to flow along a path having a width generally paralleling the body of said human being which exceeds a depth extending generally transversely of said body,

further constraining said flow path to flow in progressively diminishing width along a flow direction extending toward the lungs of said human being,

impeding said flow of air,

radiating heat from the body of a human being through said zone,

reflecting said radiated heat back toward said body, and transmitting air flowing in said flow path to the lungs of said human being.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 21,424 5/1883 Germany.

WILLIAM E. KAMM, Primary Examiner 

